Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Mispronunciation

First off, I'm back from Austin and feeling a little gaggy. Ok, a lot. I've been making trips back and forth to the bathroom. I've had motion sickness before, but not this badly. I was SOOO close to puking on the airplane but managed to keep it in until right after I got in the car. (NO, I'm not pregnant because I know someone will make a comment like that. ;) ) Anyways, I have pictures and such, but am not really in the mood to upload them and feel more like lying around until the next bout hits me.

On to the real reason of this post. I will be the first to admit that my last name is odd. It just is, and there's no way around it. It's especially odd because I went from such a normal, maiden name (Nielson) to a weird VERY mispronounced last name (Snedaker) After working in the ER and seeing all of the last names people have, I realize it's not so weird anymore, however it is mispronounced ALL of the time. Correct pronunciation: Sneh-da-ker. Easy enough? Apparently not for some. This morning when I went to check out of the hotel, the woman behind the front desk looked at her screen for a long moment and I know she was trying to figure out how to say my last name. Finally, after much hesitation, she said, "How was your stay Miss Snee....dock....er?" It sounded like it was in fact three different words. I said fine and was on my way. I should be used to it right?

The man who took me to the airport was even worse. As he opened the door, he said: "Good morning Miss Sneed Wrecker." I quietly giggled to myself about this the entire way to the airport. It sounds like I'm some sort of seed or garden wrecker when you pronounce it like that. I could go on and on about how it is mispronounced. Every once in a while, people will get it right on the first try, and I must say that it's very impressive. Other times, if people seem like they are struggling, I say it for them. It's not that bad though.
Say it to yourself:
Snedaker.

7 comments:

Jeralee said...

OH my gosh... hysterical. Thanks for the laugh you garden wrecker you! If I was in that position, I would openly admit with a smile "Now how do you pronounce your name? I don't want to slaughter it."

I can just imagine you giggling to yourself in the back of that car.

Kudos for keeping your lunch down on the plane... not an easy task to master.

Brittany said...

Um yeah, my last name went from Bench to Fallahi. I feel your pain Tiff.

S. Fantasia said...

Hahahaha. Nice. I have to say, people tend to get ours right. Though, with such a high hispanic population around here, we get a lot of giggles from others (our last name means "fantasy"). I was always hoping to marry a normal last name like "Smith" or "Jones" or even "Nielson". My maiden name is Jamtaas. Nobody ever said it right. EVER. :o)

Avry said...

Hahaha.. now that is funny stuff! I laughed about the seed wrecker.. hahaha.
Yeah I have loved my last names through the years ;)

Jason said...

Give them credit for trying.

Danielle Bullock said...

Yeah I know the feeling! It's weird to think I won't ever have to worry about that last name anymore.People are usually pretty good about pronouncing Bullock right. Guess I got lucky!

Dave and Candace said...

Oh, I feel your pain. When I taught school, almost daily a student would call me Mrs. Snickers and think it was hilarious. At least they were doing it on purpose :) (Candace Snedaker)